Jesse Pollak’s compromised X account used to promote BASEMEME token

By CoinAINews Staff | September 6, 2026

Base co-founder Jesse Pollak’s X account was compromised on September 6, with an attacker using a connected third-party application to publish posts promoting a token called BASEMEME. Pollak later confirmed that the posts had been removed, third-party application connections had been revoked and he had regained full control of the account.

The incident did not involve a confirmed compromise of the Base blockchain itself. The available reports describe the problem as an account-security incident involving Pollak’s X account.

What Happened to Jesse Pollak’s X Account?

Pollak said his X account had been compromised and that the attacker used a third-party application connected to the account to publish a fraudulent token ticker.

After discovering the unauthorized activity, Pollak said the related posts were deleted and all third-party application connections were removed. He also confirmed that he had regained full control of the account and urged users to remain vigilant about security.

Reports from ChainCatcher, subsequently cited by other crypto news outlets, identified the token promoted through the compromised account as BASEMEME.

BASEMEME Was Promoted Through the Compromised Account

Screenshots of the deleted posts showed BASEMEME being promoted with language describing it as a meme coin with utility. The posts also included a link to o1.exchange and a contract address for the token.

The important distinction is that the token was promoted from a compromised personal X account. There is no verified evidence in the reports reviewed for this article that BASEMEME was an official Base token or an official Base product.

That distinction matters because a post appearing on a prominent crypto executive’s compromised account can create the impression of an endorsement even when no such endorsement exists.

BASEMEME’s Reported Market Cap

Contemporary reports cited a market capitalization of approximately $257,000 for BASEMEME at the time of reporting.

That figure should be treated as a reported market snapshot rather than a stable valuation. Small-cap tokens can experience significant changes in liquidity, trading activity and market capitalization over short periods.

CoinAINews has not included claims that BASEMEME crashed more than 90% because that move could not be independently verified with sufficiently strong market-data evidence.

Pollak Regained Control of the Account

According to Pollak’s clarification, the immediate security response included three key actions:

The fraudulent posts were deleted.
Third-party application connections were removed.
Full control of the X account was restored.

Pollak also warned users to remain vigilant, highlighting the risks created when attackers gain access to connected applications associated with high-profile social-media accounts.

This Was an X Account Compromise, Not a Confirmed Base Blockchain Hack

The incident should not be confused with a blockchain exploit.

The reporting available at the time of publication describes unauthorized activity on Pollak’s X account through a connected third-party application. It does not establish that Base’s underlying blockchain infrastructure was compromised.

There is also no verified evidence in the sources reviewed for this article identifying the attacker, establishing a specific amount of money stolen from users, or confirming how many people interacted with the promoted token.

Why the Incident Matters for Crypto Users

Compromised social-media accounts are particularly dangerous in cryptocurrency because traders often treat posts from well-known developers, founders and executives as potential signals.

A fraudulent token promotion can therefore appear credible simply because it is published through a trusted account. The presence of a trading link or contract address does not establish that a token is legitimate or officially endorsed.

Users should independently verify announcements through official project websites, verified communication channels and other trusted sources before connecting wallets, signing transactions or purchasing newly promoted tokens.

What Is Confirmed — and What Is Not

Confirmed / Reported	Not Established
Jesse Pollak’s X account was compromised.	The identity of the attacker.
A connected third-party application was used to publish the unauthorized content.	A specific amount of user funds stolen.
BASEMEME was promoted through the compromised account.	The number of users affected.
Deleted-post screenshots included an o1.exchange link and contract address.	BASEMEME being an official Base token or Base endorsement.
Pollak said the posts were deleted and third-party connections removed.	A confirmed compromise of the Base blockchain itself.
Pollak said he regained control of his account.	A verified claim that BASEMEME fell more than 90%.
Reports cited BASEMEME at approximately $257,000 market cap at the relevant snapshot.	Any definitive conclusion about total financial losses.

How Crypto Users Can Protect Themselves

The incident highlights several basic security practices that remain important for crypto users:

Do not assume every post from a familiar account is authentic. Even verified or prominent accounts can be compromised.
Check official channels. Cross-check major token announcements against a project’s official website and other verified communication channels.
Inspect links before connecting a wallet. A link appearing in a compromised account’s post should not automatically be trusted.
Verify contract addresses independently. Never rely solely on an address published in a social-media post.
Review connected applications regularly. Removing unused or suspicious third-party connections can reduce account-security risks.
Do not trade solely because of an influential account. Social-media visibility is not proof of legitimacy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Jesse Pollak’s X account hacked?

Pollak confirmed that his X account was compromised. Reports say a third-party application connected to the account was used to publish unauthorized token-related content.

What token was promoted from the compromised account?

The token promoted in the deleted posts was called BASEMEME.

Was BASEMEME officially launched by Base?

There is no verified evidence in the sources reviewed for this article that BASEMEME was an official Base token or an official Base product. It was promoted through Pollak’s compromised account.

What was BASEMEME’s reported market cap?

Contemporary reports cited a market capitalization of approximately $257,000 at the relevant snapshot.

Did Pollak regain control of his account?

Yes. Pollak said the unauthorized posts were deleted, third-party application connections were removed and he had regained full control of the account.

Was the Base blockchain itself hacked?

No such compromise was established by the sources reviewed for this report. The incident described in the available reporting concerns Pollak’s X account and a connected third-party application.

Did BASEMEME crash more than 90%?

CoinAINews is not presenting that claim as a confirmed fact. Some secondary reports circulated claims of a sharp decline, but a sufficiently strong independent market-data source was not found to verify an exact 90%+ fall.

Bottom Line

Jesse Pollak’s X account was compromised on September 6, and the attacker used a connected third-party application to promote BASEMEME through unauthorized posts. Pollak subsequently removed the posts and third-party connections and said he had regained control of the account.

The incident is a reminder that a cryptocurrency promotion appearing on a trusted social-media account is not automatically legitimate. In this case, the available evidence supports an account-compromise incident, while claims about attacker identity, user losses, Base blockchain security and a 90%+ BASEMEME collapse remain unconfirmed.

Sources

Editorial note: CoinAINews has intentionally excluded unverified claims about a more-than-90% BASEMEME crash, attacker identity, user losses and any compromise of the Base blockchain. The article distinguishes reported market figures from independently established facts.

Base Co-Founder Jesse Pollak’s X Account Compromised, BASEMEME Promoted in Fraudulent Posts